The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE), indicating that FACE is constitutional and does not violate the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech. FACE is the 1994 law that makes it a federal crime to blockade or commit violence against women’s health care clinics and workers.

Anti-abortion extremists have challenged the constitutionality of FACE since it was passed. Three federal appeals courts have upheld FACE, and in early October the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from four men who were arrested under FACE for blockading a Wisconsin clinic for four hours. By declining to hear the case, the Supreme Court indicated that the lower court ruling stands.

The Feminist Majority Foundation’s National Clinic Defense Project established emergency projects in both San Diego and Chicago, sites of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, to keep clinics open. At the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, police arrested several thousand anti-abortion activists. This year at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, fewer than 150 anti-abortion extremists were in each city attempting to blockade clinics. The Feminist Majority Foundation’s National Clinic Defense Project successfully kept abortion clinics open in both cities.

"The extremist anti-abortion movement is losing support," said Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation. "People are turned off by their tactics of violence, and thanks to the vigilance of the pro-choice movement, the FACE Act, and stronger law enforcement response, violence at clinics is decreasing."

Prominent national leaders of the anti-abortion movement were in San Diego, such as Flip Benham, National Director of Operation Rescue; Joseph Scheidler, Executive Director of Pro-Life Action League; and Norman Weslin of the Lambs of Christ. Yet they were not able to muster more than a small contingent of support.

In San Diego, police arrested 30 anti-abortion extremists for attempting to blockade a clinic. In Chicago, 20 arrests were made. Charges under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act may be filed against these anti-abortion extremists.

"By keeping clinics open and providing a pro-abortion rights presence wherever the antis went," said Alice Cohan, National Programs Director and organizer of clinic defense activities in both cities, "we were able to deprive the anti-abortion extremists of their goals of publicity and disruption."